Page:Southern Historical Society Papers volume 32.djvu/79

 From Petersburg to Appomattox. 67

between Captain Glenney and the Confederate commander, Colonel J. F. Harrison, of the Third Louisiana cavalry. Glenney, as before shown, was put in irons, but made his escape, went to New Orleans, and was assisted by Confederates in that city to go to Mexico, and has not since been heard from.

MARCUS J. WRIGHT. Was king ton, D. C.

[From the Times-Dispatch, January 1, 1905.]

FROM PETERSBURG TO APPOMATTOX.

A Brave Officer's Recollection of the Last Hours of the

Confederacy.

BRIDGES THAT WERE BURNED.

By Colonel T. M. R. TALCOTT, in Command of the Engineer Troops of the Army of Northern Virginia.

During the winter of 1864-5, by order of General Lee the Engi- neer Troops rebuilt Bevill's Bridge over the Appomattox river about twenty-five miles above Petersburg, and sent a pontoon bridge which was at Petersburg, to the Richmond and Danville Railroad crossing of the Staunton river, ninety miles west of Richmond. Another pontoon bridge was ready for use at the site of Goode's Bridge over the Appomattox, between Bevill's Bridge and the R. & D. R. R. crossing of that stream, and requisition was made on the Engineer Bureau for a pontoon train to be held in reserve sub- ject to order.

In addition to these preparations for the possible exigencies of the spring campaign, a map was made, showing the roads from Richmond and Petersburg to the several crossings of the Appomat- tox river, to be distributed to the corps and division commanders when needed. This map has since been published by the United States Government.

On Sunday, April 2, 1865, General Lee notified the Engineer Bureau to send at once lo Matoax by the Richmond & Danville